June 2014

You might think you know a thing or two about Colombia, but I bet you don’t know everything. For example, did you know that Medellin now has a new title—the Urban Land Institute’s Innovative City of the Year for 2013? Or that UNESCO’s World Heritage List includes seven Colombian sites, and 19 more are currently under review for inclusion. You may be unaware that Colombia has Latin America’s third largest economy or that it’s the second most biodiverse country on the planet. And, you might not have heard that in 2014, WIN/Gallup’s Barometer of Hope and Happiness survey deemed Colombia the happiest country in the world…for the second year in a row.

Last year, renowned architect Richard Meier unveiled the design for his first residential project in Colombia in a leafy northern quarter of the capital, Bogotá. Not far, W is set to open a property in November, the second hotel from the Starwood group’s luxury and youthful sub-brand in the whole of South America. A few blocks away, Peru’s “superchef” Gastón Acurio is opening restaurants similar to the ones he owns in places such as Madrid and San Francisco.

… Colombia is home to a vibrant art scene that also happens to be undergoing a seismic shift. Older generations of artists, such as the 55-year-old Salcedo, prefer to provoke, their works scratching at the scabs of Colombia's bloody past. At the same time, a younger set, led by artists like the 38-year-old Sierra, is trying hard to disassociate from this violent history, identifying with the country's surging economy and energy. Instead of Escobar, the up-and-comers want to think about nature and architecture, culling pieces from their private diaries and quieter obsessions. Colombian art finds itself at a crossroads, pivoting between the desire for sociopolitical engagement and poetic escape—and the resulting creative tension could prove momentous.

The group stage of the 2014 World Cup has been a tournament marked by budding stars like Brazil's Neymar and established performers in their primes such as Arjen Robben of the Netherlands. However, in one of the final two matches of Group C, 43-year-old Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon grabbed a very different sort of attention simply by appearing on the pitch at all.

The norm that gives way for Colombia to export cape gooseberries or Physalis without cold treatment into the United States, and that defines the requirements for exporters to access this new permit, came into effect on June 2.

Colombia's government has outlined an ambitious new ICT plan for the next four years, shortly after current President Juan Manuel Santos won a second term in office. ICT minister Diego Molano has hailed the country's 2010-14 ICT plan a success, saying that all 93 initiatives outlined in the plan had been implemented.

Colombia's economy grew at a faster pace than expected in the first quarter, as construction spending soared, likely reinforcing the central bank's resolve to keep tightening monetary policy to prevent the economy from overheating.

Colombia’s economy grew at the fastest pace in more than two years in the first quarter, beating all analysts’ forecasts, after a surge in government spending ahead of President Manuel Santos’ re-election. Bond fell on expectations of higher interest rates.

Mexico's stock exchange said on Thursday it will be connected to bourses in Chile, Colombia and Peru by year-end through the Latin American Integrated Market, or MILA, nearly doubling the size of the bloc. MILA was formed in 2011 to boost market liquidity within the Pacific Alliance trade grouping, and the tie-up aims to create more business for the financial markets in the region.

Two airlines have announced plans to add flights to Cartagena this year, reflecting the growth in American tourism demand in Colombia. Beginning July 17, Avianca will offer direct flights from Kennedy Airport in New York to Cartagena three times weekly, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with continuing service to Pereira, gateway to coffee country. Returning flights will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

She was greeted by hundreds of people, cheering and dancing in her honor. The A.R.C. Gloria docked at the Tampa Bay Convention Center Monday. People waved Colombian flags and moved their hips as the ship came into port. She is a Colombian Naval tall ship, travelling around the world to introduce people to the South American country.

Colombian Movistar rider Nairo Quintana won the first Grand Tour of his career with victory in the Giro d'Italia. The 24-year-old finished two minutes 58 seconds ahead of compatriot Rigoberto Uran, 27, after the final stage from Gemona del Friuli to Trieste.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic during the week of June 16, 2014. Biden will meet with leaders in each country to discuss the full range of bilateral, regional and global issues.

Today, nearly half of the world lives in poverty, including nearly a quarter of Californians. The United States, like every nation, grapples with the challenge of income inequality. Colombia is no different. But our use of technology to change the lives of millions of our citizens has the potential to transform the way the world thinks about lifting those in need out of poverty.

The sailing vessel Gloria docked along the Riverwalk at the Tampa Convention Center on Monday for four days of free public tours. The Gloria is the flagship of the Armada de la República de Colombia — the Colombian Navy. A training vessel, the Gloria was built in Spain in 1968 as the smallest of four similar ships.

The Colombian novelist Juan Gabriel Vásquez on Thursday became the first South American writer to win the lucrative International Impac Dublin Literary Award, for “The Sound of Things Falling” (Riverhead Books).

Did You Know

A country with modern cities, vast farmlands, diverse cultures and colonial charm, Colombia’s economy has grown steadily over the past decade – becoming both a top Latin American center for business and an increasingly popular tourist destination.